BALTIMORE, MD - The Johns Hopkins football team will enter the 2013 season with at least two top-10 preseason rankings to its credit as the Blue Jays earned nods from the Sporting News and Lindy's College Football. In addition, a pair of Johns Hopkins offensive linemen - senior tackle Armand Jenifer (Teaneck, NJ/Bergen County Academies) and senior center Ben Cranston (Parkton, MD/Loyola) - garnered Preseason All-America honors.

Johns Hopkins is ranked ninth in the Sporting News preseason top 25 and 10th in Lindy's listing of the top 25 Division III teams entering the 2013 season. These are the highest preseason rankings in school history and the first preseason top 10 rankings in school history as well.

In addition to the team rankings, Jenifer and Cranston were both honored as preseason All-Americans. Jenifer earned first team honors from both the Sporting News and Lindy's, while Cranston was named to Lindy's second team.

Jenifer earned AFCA and d3football.com All-America honors last season and is one of the most decorated offensive linemen in school history. He has twice earned First Team All-Centennial honors and is a two-time d3football.com All-Region selection as well.

Cranston is the latest in a long line of accomplished centers at Johns Hopkins. He earned First Team All-Centennial honors and Third Team d3football.com All-Region honors last season.

With Jenifer and Cranston leading the way, Johns Hopkins averaged 36.8 points and 485.2 yards per game. Jenifer and Cranston are two of four starters returning to the Blue Jay offensive line.

Under the guidance of head coach Jim Margraff, Johns Hopkins posted a 10-2 record last season and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, where the Blue Jays lost to eventual national champion Mount Union. The Blue Jays won their fourth straight Centennial Conference title last season and advanced to the NCAAs for the third time in four years.